When do you start noticing changes in your pregnant dogs appearance? The second trimester may be when your dog actually starts to look pregnant and gain weight. Her nipples along the mammary chain (the glands along the left or right side of her body) will start to enlarge and may darken in preparation for all the milk theyll need to deliver to the puppies. Not much else happens during the second trimester: Your dog can continue her normal exercise and routine.
The beginning of the third trimester (around day 45) is when you can start to see the puppies on an X-ray (radiograph). Your vet will be able to see how many puppies your dog is carrying, and theyll also ensure that the puppies heads will pass safely through the birth canal. This is mostly a concern with brachycephalic dog breeds, who may have birth canals that are too narrow to pass big puppy heads. If your vet determines that the puppies are too big to pass safely through the birth canal, then your dog will need to have a cesarean section, or C-section, to remove the puppies when shes done gestating.
A normal dog gestation period (or pregnancy) is 63 to 65 days, regardless of the size or breed of the dog. For example, a Chihuahua is pregnant for the same amount of time as a Rottweiler. Though how long dogs are pregnant is shorter than humans, like humans, dogs also have three trimesters. Each one lasts about 21 days. If you think or know your dog has been bred, write down the date so that your veterinarian can have confidence in your dogs due date. Heres what you can expect when your dog is expecting.
As your dogs time approaches, shell likely start looking for and preparing her birthing nest. This can be as simple as a cardboard box or a dog bed with sides that are high enough to keep the puppies inside when mom needs to leave for a break. She may also drag blankets into her nest and arrange them just so. Let her do what she needs to do — just make sure the birthing and nesting area is in a temperature-controlled environment between 85 and 90 degrees Fahrenheit for the first few days.
Make sure to have your vet on speed dial during the last few weeks of pregnancy, just in case anything goes wrong, or if you need help or advice. If your dog doesnt go into labor on the 65-day due date, or if she shows signs of dystocia (difficulty giving birth), then call your vet immediately.
While there are several factors that affect the length of pregnancy, on average a dog carries puppies between 58 to 67 days or about two months. The average time to delivery is 63 days.
If you want to be truly organized and track your dogs progress so you can provide her with the best care, you can make a simple chart with a list of what happens during your dogs pregnancy week-by-week. Doing helps you make sure your home is set up for all requirements for the dog pregnancy stages. Its also useful for tracking the intensity and duration of symptoms to make sure the pregnancy is going well and your dog doesnt need further veterinary care. Trending on LoveToKnow
Of course, unless your dog had a planned breeding, the first step in this process may be noticing that something isnt quite right about your dog and finding out shes pregnant. If you know about the stages of a dogs pregnancy, you can tell where your dog is in the cycle by recognizing the signs and symptoms.
The best way to learn when your dog will be giving birth is with a veterinary examination which may include a sonogram and hormonal testing. The dog pregnancy test can provide accurate information but only if your dog is at least 22 days in otherwise an ultrasound may be a better choice.
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Puppies are exciting. If you are new to breeding, or you are eagerly awaiting the birth of a reserved puppy from a breeder’s litter, the wait can seem eternal. Luckily for us (and for the dog), the gestation period in dogs is much shorter than the gestation period in humans. But exactly how long does a dog’s pregnancy last?
In order to answer the question, “how long are dogs pregnant,” you first need to understand the dog reproductive cycle. Intact female dogs go into heat approximately every six months, although this can vary depending on the dog and the breed. The heat cycle lasts 18-to-21 days and is broken into four distinct stages. Breeders use these stages to determine the best time to breed their dogs.
The four stages of the female dog’s reproductive cycle are:
Proestrus lasts for about 9 days and is the first stage of the reproductive cycle. This is when females start to attract males, although they will reject their advances until stage two. The signs of proestrus are:
Estrus lasts anywhere from 3-to-4 days to 7-to-11 days. This is when the bitch is receptive to the male. Many breeders have a veterinarian take vaginal smears and blood tests during proestrus and estrus to make sure they breed their dogs at the optimal time. The signs of proestrus are:
Diestrus is the final stage of the cycle. It typically occurs around day 14. During diestrus, the bitch’s discharge becomes redder and tapers off, the vulva returns to normal, and she will no longer permit mating. The heat is complete when all signs of swelling and discharge are gone. The time frame between one heat cycle and the next is called anestrus and usually lasts around six months.
Understanding the heat cycle plays an important role in determining the length of pregnancy. Breeders can calculate conception dates by keeping track of their bitch’s heat cycle and breeding period, which makes it easier for veterinarians to accurately test for pregnancy.
How long is a dog pregnant?
How long are dogs pregnant for? A dog’s gestation period lasts around 60 to 65 days, or around 9 weeks. The pregnancy can last up to 70 days depending on when the female mated and whether her egg was ready to be fertilised. The pregnancy will not be noticeable in the first three weeks.
If ovulation timing was done with progesterone levels, it is important to not let your dog go more than 1 to 2 days beyond due date without consulting with a veterinarian. If timing wasn’t done, most dogs will whelp 63 days plus or minus 5 days from breeding (between 58 and 68 days).